McLaren Construction Appointed To Build UK’s Largest All-Timber Office Building

Global Holdings Management Group has selected McLaren Construction to deliver Xylo, a 100,000 sq ft all-timber office building in Clerkenwell that is expected to set a new benchmark for low-carbon workplace development in London.

The nine-storey project, designed by Piercy & Co, will be the UK’s largest office built entirely from structural timber, using glulam beams and cross-laminated timber supplied by Hybrid Structures. The frame will store more than 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ and is intended to cut embodied carbon by around 50 percent compared with a typical London office. Operational emissions are projected to be as much as 82 percent lower.

Xylo is targeting LETI Pioneer, NABERS UK 5.5-star and BREEAM Excellent ratings. Deliveries to site will be tightly controlled to minimise emissions, and the modular design is intended to allow floors to be reconfigured easily as occupier needs evolve.

Design and amenities

The building will centre on a 6.5-metre-high vaulted lobby and include:

• Nine floors of timber-lined workspace

• Five landscaped terraces with views across London

• A 3,800 sq ft rooftop garden

• A 3,640 sq ft town hall space with bar, lounge and auditorium

• Café/restaurant, cycle facilities and showers

The emphasis on natural materials, low-VOC finishes and energy-efficient systems is intended to create one of the healthiest indoor environments in the capital.

Located in Clerkenwell, the scheme sits within walking distance of Farringdon, Chancery Lane and King’s Cross St Pancras, with access to the Elizabeth Line, Thameslink and multiple Underground routes.

Industry reaction

Josh Lawrence, Chief Executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, said the scheme marks “a significant milestone” for sustainable office development and is designed for occupiers “that are leaders in their fields”.

Darren Gill, Managing Director for London & South at McLaren Construction, described the project as “a pioneering use of structural timber and off-site manufacturing”, adding that digital monitoring will help track carbon performance through construction.

McLaren takes the project forward following enabling works, working alongside Avison Young, Max Fordham and Heyne Tillett Steel. Completion is scheduled for Q2 2028.